Zoo's dinosaur gets more support in painting by San Juan artist

This painting by San Juan Capistrano artist Art Guevara has been reproduced on postcards as a show of support for Zoomars Petting Zoo's controversial dinosaur statue. The painting depicts the replica apatosaurus, with other San Juan sights in the background, including the mission. PHOTO COURTESY OF ART GUEVARA, REPORTING BY JOSH FRANCIS

A well-known San Juan Capistrano artist is throwing his support behind Zoomars Petting Zoo while it fights to keep a controversial dinosaur replica that has made international headlines.

Art Guevara has completed a painting of the 13-foot-tall apatosaurus statue, adding a depiction of Mission San Juan Capistrano in the background. He said he will sell postcards of the image for $10, with proceeds going toward opening an art center for disadvantaged youths.

On Thursday, Guevara presented Zoomars owner Carolyn Franks with a postcard and expressed his support for the dinosaur.

"The reaction of the children when they see (the dinosaur) at Zoomars is overwhelming," Guevara said. "Just the screams of joy – that's the most beautiful thing."

Franks is appealing a city staff order that she remove the statue. The Planning Commission is expected to hear the appeal Aug. 14. The statue is still up, pending the outcome.

The city cited failure to obtain proper building permits and sided with some residents' concerns that the statue doesn't fit San Juan's historical character. Members of the Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee, a group of longtime residents from local historical families, have adamantly opposed the statue and raised objections to it the day after it was installed June 13 in a play area at Zoomars in the Los Rios Historic District.

Guevara joins other area artists who have thrown their support to the apatosaurus. In July, San Clemente resident Jason Pearson designed T-shirts and other items after his kids fell in love with the replica.

"Everybody loves the dinosaur; everybody wants to help," Franks said. The zoo's attendance this summer is higher than it's ever been, she said.

Franks knows, however, that public support won't be the deciding factor when she goes before the Planning Commission and possibly the City Council.

She said an area resident, whom she did not identify, has offered legal help should the commission and council vote against her appeal.

Planning commissioners have reserved comment for their public hearing. Some council members have visited the zoo but are reserving comment until after the Planning Commission renders its decision.

Franks said she will present the commission with a petition signed by thousands of dinosaur supporters. She said she also has received letters, dinosaur toys and other T-shirts and art expressing support. Children attending a camp at Zoomars even painted a timeline of San Juan Capistrano, with dinosaurs at the beginning.

Zoomars also is receiving help from Themebuilders, the Philippines-based company that built the dinosaur statue. It sent plans to improve and fix up the replica, which Zoomars bought at auction with considerable wear and tear.

The statue originally was intended for a mall in Romania, but the mall rejected it and it eventually made its way to an Anaheim auction house, where Franks purchased it for $12,000 in June.

This painting by San Juan Capistrano artist Art Guevara has been reproduced on postcards as a show of support for Zoomars Petting Zoo's controversial dinosaur statue. The painting depicts the replica apatosaurus, with other San Juan sights in the background, including the mission. PHOTO COURTESY OF ART GUEVARA, REPORTING BY JOSH FRANCIS
Zoomars Petting Zoo owner Carolyn Franks poses in front of the zoo's 13-foot-tall apatosaurus replica with San Juan Capistrano artist Art Guevara, who's holding his painting of the dinosaur. JOSH FRANCIS, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This timeline of San Juan Capistrano painted by children attending a camp at Zoomars Petting Zoo depicts dinosaurs at the beginning. The work was intended to show support for Zoomars' 13-foot-tall replica apatosaurus, pictured here. JOSH FRANCIS, FOR THE ORANGE COLUNTY REGISTER
Zoomars owner Carolyn Franks shows a toy apatosaurus and the lyrics to a song written by a supporter of the zoo's dinosaur statue, which San Juan Capistrano city staff has ordered removed. Franks is appealing the decision to the city Planning Commission. JOSH FRANCIS, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Themebuilders, the Philippines-based company that built the dinosaur statue at Zoomars Petting Zoo, has sent plans to improve and fix up the replica, which Zoomars bought at auction in June with considerable wear and tear. ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF CAROLYN FRANKS. REPORTING BY JOSH FRANCIS

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